Dozens of attacks on U.S. military facilities by Iran-backed factions in Iraq over the past two months as the Israel-Hamas war has raged have forced Baghdad into a balancing act that’s becoming more difficult by the day.

A rocket attack on the sprawling U.S. Embassy in Baghdad on Friday marked a further escalation as Iraqi officials scramble to contain the ripple effects of the latest Middle East war.

Iran holds considerable sway in Iraq and a coalition of Iran-backed groups brought Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to power in October 2022. At the same time, there are some 2,000 U.S. troops in Iraq under an agreement with Baghdad, mainly to counter the militant Islamic State group.

  • Quokka@quokk.au
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    8 months ago

    Mate, that’s a pretty poor telling of events.

    There wouldn’t have been a revolution if not for the US/Brit coup of a democratically elected leftist leader over the nationalisation of BP oil fields in Iran 20 years prior in favour of an authoritarian monarch.

    • Maeve@kbin.social
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      8 months ago

      It’s as good as you’re likely going to get from western sources. Yes, we have to “prove” leftist government can’t work by undermining it, always. Telling, isn’t it?

      • Quokka@quokk.au
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        8 months ago

        The current Iranian government has nothing to do with leftism. Focus on the world you live in today.